METHYLCELLULOSE AS A CONTACT-LENS IRRIGANT WHEN SILICONE OIL IS USED IN VITREORETINAL SURGERY

When silicone oil, a hydrophobic agent, is injected into the vitreous cavity during the course of vitrectomy operations, often some escapes outside the eye, and a mixture of oil and water forms under the infusi on contact lens, markedly interfering with visibility. We found that a viscous solution of methylcellulose 1.75% in saline used as the infus ion contact lens irrigant, instead of a saline solution alone, can pre vent silicone oil from entering under the contact lens, thus avoiding this difficulty.